Water-circulation preheating system for internal-combustion engines



June 11, 1929. w, wHELAN 1,716,715

WATER CIRCULATION PREHEATING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINESFiled Dec. 3, 1926 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented June 11, 1929.

urreo srArss PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. WHELAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WATER-CIRCULATION PEEI-IEATING SYSTEM FUR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed December 3, 1926. Serial No. 152,447.

means of which the motor may be heated quickly without the motorrunning.

A further object of my invention is to pro vide a device of the typedescribed which is disposed between the radiator and the motor and whichis adapted to heat the water coming from the motor and cause the hotwater to circulate through the motor without interfering with the waterin the radiator.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed which When turned on heats the water in the motor and whenturned off during the running of the motor permits the water to passtherethrough to the radiator.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification,and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed outin the appended claim.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming part ofthis application, which shows a sectional view of my device as appliedto a motor and a radiator of an automobile.

In carrying out my invention, I make use of a motor 1 having an inlet 2and an outlet 8. I further make use of a radiator 4: having an inlet 5and an outlet 6.

I provide a heating unit which consists of a casing 7 having a cylinder8 centrally disposed therein and terminating a short distance from thebottom 9 of the casing. The upper ends of the casing 7 and the cylinder8 are rigidly secured to each other by a ring 10 disposed therebetweenand secured in place by any suitable means, such as welding. A cover 11is provided with acentrally-disposed screw-threaded portion 12 forreceiving the threaded end of a tubular member 13. A plug 14 constructedof insulating material and having a central opening 15 is disposed inthe outor end of the tubular member 18. A terminal post 16 is disposedin the opening 15. A resistance coil 17 has one end secured to theterminal post 16 and the other end grounded at 18 upon the tubularmember 13. A conductor 19 is secured at one end to the post 16 and atthe other end to one of the contact points of a switch 20. A conductor21 is secured at one end to the other contact point of the switch and atthe other end to a battery 22. The battery is grounded at 23 to anysuitable part of the automobile, such as the frame or the motor. Thecover 11 is removably disposed upon the upper end of the casing 7,thetubular member being centrally disposed in the cylinder 8, the lowerend of the tubular member being closed and terminating a short. distancefrom the lower end of the cylinder 8.

The cylinder 8 is provided with an inlet pipe 24 which passes throughthe casing 7 and 18 secured to one end of a T pipe connection 25,

the other end of this connection being secured to the outlet 8. Thecasing 7 is provided with an integral outlet pipe 26 which is secured toone end of a T pipe connection 27, the other end of the connection 27being secured to the inlet 5. The T connections and 27 are connected toeach other by pipes 29 and 28 which are joined by a valve 30.

A bypass 31 is rigidly secured to the bottom 9 at the center thereof andprovides an inlet for the casing 7. A tube 32 is secured at one end tothe inlet 2 and at the other end to an outwardly extending tubularportion 33 of the by-pass 31. A tube 34; is secured at one end to theoutlet 6 and at the other end to a tubular portion 35 of the by-pass 31.A valve 36 is disposed in the by-pass 31 for permitting water to enterthe casing 7 and for preventing the water within the casing from passingoutwardly through the bypass.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, theoperation thereof may be readily understood. During warm weather thevalve 30 is opened permitting the water from the motor to pass throughthe pipes 29 and 28, through the radiator at, the outlet 6, through thetubes 34 and 32, through the inlet 2 of the motor, and through themotor.

However, during cold weather, the valve 30 is closed causing the waternormally to flow from the motor through the outlet 8, the T connection25, the inlet pipe 24 int-o the cylinder 8, beneaththe cylinder 8 intothe casing 7 out through the outlet pipe 26, the T connection 27, theinlet 5, through the radiator and back to the motor through the tubes 34and 32.

Assuming that the operator wishes to park the automobile for a half houror more and wishes to keep the motor warm during this period, theoperator closes the switch permitting the source of current to flow fromthe battery 22 through the conductor 21, the switch 20, the conductor19, the post 16, through the resistance coil 17 to ground at 18 whichcarries the source of current back to the ground 23 and to the battery.As the source of current flows through the resistance coil 17, thetubular member 13 is heated. In this manner the water surrounding thetubular member 13 is also heated. As this water is heated, it passesupwardly within the cylinder 8 and passes outwardly through the pipe 24,the T connection 25, the outlet 3, through the motor, and out of theinlet 2 into the tube 32. As the hot water passes out of the cylinder 8,cold water is drawn into the cylinder 8 through the bypass 31 past thevalve 36. This circulation is continued as the water within the cylinder8 is heated by the resistance coil 17 within the tubular member 13.

It will be observed that the heating unit is disposed substantiallyadjacent the motor whereby the circuit for the water is made as short aspossible for enabling the heating unit to heat the water in a relativelyshort time and keep the motor heated. it is not necessary to heat thewater in the radiator in order to heat the motor.

hen the operator again wishes to start the motor, the water flowsthrough the motor and the radiator in the usual manner.

I am aware that electrical heating units have been employed for heatingthe water in the radiator and in the motor of an auto mobile, but anobject of my invention is to provide a device which readily heats thewater within the motor without the necessity of heating the water withinthe radiator. lVith this system of heating, a much smaller amount ofwater need be heated for heating the motor.

The battery 22 is an auxiliary battery which is employed for the heatingunit alone in order that the supply of current required for the heatingunit need not interfere with the lights or the running of the motor.

I claim:

The combination with a motor having a water inlet and a water outlet anda radiator having a water inlet and a water outlet, of means positionedbetween said motor and said radiator for heating water passing from theinlet in said motor, said means comprising a casing, communicationbetween the lower portion of said casing, the outlet of said radiator,and the inlet of said motor, the inlet of said radiator communicatingwith said casing at the upper extremity thereof, a cylinder disposed insaid casing and having an open end disposed in substai'itial alignmentwith the communication at the lower extremity of said casing, the outletof said motor being in communication with the upper portion of saidcylinder, a tubular member disposed in said cylinder, a heating unitdisposed in said tubular member, and means for energizing said heatingunit for heating said tubular member for heating water received in saidcylinder from the outlet of said motor, the heated water in saidcylinder surrounding said tubular member and passing through the outletof said motor, through said 1110- tor, through the inlet of said motor,and again into the casing where it will be drawn upwardly into saidcylinder as the heated Water passes therefrom, thus reversing the normalcirculation of the water through the motor.

WILLIAM B. \VI-IELAN.

